National Republican., 1887-10-11
-....s",r or Labor aud Their WORK

-.--..-,sn,s Labor aud Their Work
The letter of General Master Workm III
Powderly presented to the General Assem-.
Ily Of the Knights Of Labor, now 10 session
at Minneapolis, on the position OF the
Catholic Church to the order, is notable
statement, not merely as the report OF Mr..
Powderly as 10 the action OF the church,
hut l,Cause Of the Views advanced by Car.
dinal Gibbons, who, outside OF the dignity
and power OF his position as the head OF
the Roman Church In America, has long
been recognized as a man OF great breadth
OF CEGrncter and a profound thinker.
In arriving at his conclusions on the
question before him, which was whether
the secret organization known MS the
"Knights OF Laborn was antagonistc to
the church, the cardinal discussed the ques-
tion of labor In all It's bearings to society,
rs well us the church, and bis Views are
well worthy the mature consideration OF
thinking men.
Speaking for the church Of which he is
the representative, Cardinal Gibbons said:
We readily believe that to rescue the toiler
from the grasp of the selfish is II work worthy
Of the nOblest and best of our race, and we
recognize that II is TO the accomplishment of
that grand object that the order of tho Knights
OF Labor is bending It's every energy.
Having studied the constitution OF the
order, It is fair to assume that the cardinal
rightly interpreted their intentions In the
words used above. ITO rescue the toiler
from the grasp Of the selashn Is indeed
grand work-one to which, II the knights
devote themselves successfully, will place
the order high in rank among the regene-
rators Of the world.
The cardinal claims for his church that 1t
has ever been the friend OF the people, say
ing:
The testimonies from great Protestant wri.
tors show concluslvely that the best minds
outside of the church bear witness that she has
ever been the guardian and friend OF all men,
and that for the masses In all ages she has
shown the most far-seeing wisdom, joined to
the tendereSt solicitude. Organization is the
basis OF all progress-poitlcal, social, and re-
ligious
He properly condemns anarchisn and So
cialism, and Ike true American, defends
the institutions OF his couatry In these
words:
The man that would endeavor to undermine
the laws and instiiutions of this great aud
glorious country deserves the fate of those
who laid proiane hands on the Ark OF the liv-
ing God.
In his report to the authorities at Rome,
Cardinal Gibbons said
In submitting to the Holy See the conclusion
which, Gfler several moIths OF observation
and deep reflection, seem to me to sum up III.
question OF the association OF tbs Knights OF
Labor, am strongly convinced OF the vast i'm
portance OF the question which forms but one
ring in the great chain of the social problems
Of our day, and especially OF our country.
The careful reader, be he Protestant or
Catholic, Knight OF Labor or not n mem
ber OF that order, will find nothing In these
words quoted from what Cardinal Gibbons,
the prince OF the church, said to General
Master Workman Powderly, the head OF
the great order of organized wOrkingmen,
and to the pope OF Rome that Jars with the
feelings OF the patriotic American.
The rights OF the worklngman are fully
recognized and so are the principles of lib.
ertY whose foundations are laid broad and
deep in that grand declaration which, com
mencipg on the 4th Of July, l77G, culmi-
mated, after baptism In blood, In the con-
stitution OF the United States.
The organized power OF the Church OF
Rome is pledged 70 sustain the workingmen